Repeated vandalism to the stile at Hammersmith Meadows, Ripley, is putting future access to the site in jeopardy.
The stile has been vandalised several times over the last year. Earlier this month the top rail was broken off again resulting in the cattle grazing the site escaping onto the A610. This could have resulted in a serious accident; and the grazier has now been forced to take his stock off the land in order to avoid the risk of them escaping again.
Councillor Jack Brown, Cabinet Member for Clean and Green at Amber Valley Borough Council said “We ask that people using Hammersmith Meadows respect the site and co-operate with us to ensure that it remains an important habitat for wildlife and a valuable open space for the public to enjoy.
“There is no automatic public right of way across this site, at present permissive access is granted by Amber Valley Borough Council. If problems continue to occur that affect the management of the site we may have no option but to remove public access to the Meadows, with any unauthorised access regarded as trespass. This is a classic case of the how the actions of a few mindless idiots can spoil the pleasure and enjoyment of everyone else.”
Hammersmith Meadows Local Nature Reserve, which is owned by Amber Valley Borough Council and managed by Groundwork Derby & Derbyshire, is one of the finest examples in the area of lowland meadow, a habitat that has declined by 95% over the last 40 years. It contains many types of plants and grasses not found elsewhere in Amber Valley. Management is essential to preserve and enhance the wildlife found on the site, with grazing being vital to this.
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For more information please contact Lisa Garnham, PR and Communications Manager at Amber Valley Borough Council, telephone 01773 841655.
